A little explanation might be in order. My muse exists in music.
Logic maps the story, but music gives it its soul and sends my
characters in directions that surprise even me. what I'm
left with is an eclectic handful of songs that—in my thoughts—relate
to certain scenes or more typically, relationships between
characters. Some authors cast their books with popular
actors/actresses. I'd rather cast the music as it connects more
directly to my creative process. Below are a few of the songs I think suit the
Hollows. Have a suggestion? Feel free to jump on over to
the Hollows Playlist If you'e looking for Takat's lyrics, they're HERE

~~~~~~~~
Rachel ~~~~~~~~

The songs I've found that I feel relate to Rachel cover a wonderfully wide
span. Fiona Apple's "Criminal" has begun to resonate in me lately. Coldplay's "Lost" seems to fit Rachel pretty wel, too. (I really like this group.) And
in regards to her love life, "I'm not Over" by Carolina Liar is a nice
fit. "Believe" by The Bravery, has captured my attention in regards to
Rachel's latest fix with Al. And since the release of The Outlaw Demon
Wails, I can share with you the song "Temptation" by Garbage. But
possibly the closest song I've found that fits her future is from NIN,
"The Line Begins To Blur." Breaking Benjamin's "Breathe," seems to
capture Rachel after Kisten almost perfectly. After seeing the "Lithium"
video from Evanescence, I was full of thoughts of Rachel in the
Ever-After.

On
her lighter, push-on-regardless attitude, Fiona Apple's "Extraordinary
Machine" casts a fantastic light. Going back a ways is Alice Cooper's
"Own Worst Enemy," which casts a good light on her day-to-day mishaps.
One that ties in with Trent is "Metal Heart" by Garbage. "Have You Ever"
by The Offspring, and "Save Yourself" from Stabbing Westward are also good
for getting a feel for Rachel. "Passive" off A Perfect Circle's eMOTION fits her, though I'm torn yet as to who else it relates too.

As
her story progresses, NiN's "Down in it" has a special meaning, as does
"Kinda I Want To" and "Sin." "Suicide Note" by Johnette Napolitano on the
Underworld soundtrack has begun to cast shadows on Ivy and Rachel's ever
evolving, complex relationship. And "Thinking of You," by A Perfect
Circle has whispers of Rachel and Ivy in it. As she finds herself pulled
deeper into the Hollow's underworld, "Fields of Innocence" by Evanescence
seems to fit more and more.

~~~~~~~~ Ivy ~~~~~~~~

Ivy's character is one of the most complex I've ever tried to sketch with
my pen, and she's claimed a correspondingly large portion of music. I
understand her motivations, but she remains a mystery to even me at times,
a confusing mix of human vulnerabilities and vampiric drives.

Most recently I found a song by Cake, "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" that made
me smile and think of Ivy. Death Cab For Cutie, "I will Possess Your
Heart" is another one. It seems to hit Ivy's mindset concerning Rachel,
whether Rachel agrees or not. On the other side of Ivy is "Pearls" by
Sade From the smooth silky jazz sound to the soulful lyrics of a woman
struggling to be . . . who she wants to be, it has Ivy all over it.
Thanks to my link to "all things cool and musical," I found a Garbage
track, "Never Be Free" that just about knocked me down at how well it
resonated with Ivy and her thoughts on Rachel. Going back to a few
near-past albums, I found "Wish" from NIN to be an excellent fit for Ivy's
frustrations--especially on a bad day. Stabbing Westward and their track
"What Do I have To Do?" is scrumptious at nailing Ivy's inner dilemma.
"So What" by Jeff Beck hits her other side. The power, the intensity.
It's all there in a sleek black package. Yummy.

"Faint" by Linkin Park, "Silhouettes" by Smile Empty Soul, and
"Everybody's Fool" were all all suggested by readers, (I'm sorry, I can't
remember who) and now that I've had a chance to get a good listen, I
wholeheartedly agree. Kip Winger's "Faster" has Ivy all over it. NiN's
"Terrible lie" "Sanctified" and "Something I Can Never Have" are good
matches to the plot lines, too. "Gravity" by A Perfect Circle is a good,
too, but it's a bit too collected, not quite confused enough.
Evanescence's "Away from Me" gave me chills at how close it fit Ivy's
predicament.

Ivy's fall from grace I first heard in Duran Duran's, "Save a Prayer."
(Okay, now you're laughing at me or sitting there with a puzzled look
wondering who Duran Duran is. I told you it was an eclectic stack of
music.) And I saw who pushed her into falling after hearing Evanescence's
"Going Under."

Finally, there have been a few songs that relate to both Rachel and Ivy,
but the one that I feel captures the situation best has got to be "My
Immortal" by Evanescence. The power and depth of that piece of music has
left a mark on me, and won't let go.

~~~~~~~~ Jenks ~~~~~~~~

Track ten on the Ocean's Eleven soundtrack, "Planting the Seed,"
fits Jenks flitting about as a gardener. Thanks to Tim from Tenn., I
found "Peter Gunn" done by Henry Mancini. It fits fantastically. (Think The Blues Brothers) Jenks's son, Jax, gets into trouble thanks to
"Red-Tape" from Agent Provocateur, which is also on the Underworld soundtrack. And please don't write to tell me the song isn't really about
little thieves. Inspiration is where you find it. ;-)

~~~~~~~~ Kisten ~~~~~~~~

"Thinking of You," by A Perfect Circle seems to fit Kisten. Also from A
Perfect Circle is "Weak and Powerless." But the best fit for Kisten I've
found so far is "Never Say Never," from Queens of the Stone Age off the Punisher soundtrack The depth of that piece is hidden by the ego-testical
attitude of the refrain--just like Kisten's depth is shrouded under a
carefully constructed front to disarm and beguile. NiN's "The Only Time"
fits a plot line that Kisten wiggled his way into.

~~~~~~~~ Kisten & Rachel ~~~~~~~~

With the advent of certain events in the books, Kisten's music has taken a
definite turn. Breathe by Breaking Benjamin fits really, really well as a
way to capture Rachel's emotions. Gave me goose bumps.

~~~~~~~~~ Trent ~~~~~~~~~

I'm slowly finding music to fit Trent's outlook on life and his goals.
Most recently, I've found "DOA" by the Foo Fighters, which at first I
though had a too-upbeat feel, but Trent's got to have a good day
occasionally, and the line "dancing with the bones of my buried past" just
hit me as extremely apropos. Going back to some early Police, "Murder by
Numbers" seems to work well. "Untouchable" by Garbage works with Trent,
too. A piece of music off the Queen of the Damned soundtrack fits
Trent Kalamack fairly well, especially the lyrics that Stephanie McKay
sings. Try track 13, "Excess" by Tricky. If Trent believes in anything,
it's people. "Guilty" by Gravity Kills and "The American Way" by The
Crystal Method hits his drug-lord persona perfectly.

~~~~~~~~~ Takata ~~~~~~~~~

Oddly enough, I'm just now
starting to find music that evokes Takata to me. Perhaps because he is my
musician? Anyway, Nickelback's "Rockstar" is perfect. Especially the
line, "Trade this life for fortune and fame." Dig a little farther back,
and the Eagles "Life's Been Good" (to me so far) hits Takata, very
nicely. I've always loved that song, and now I have an excuse to play it
to death. (grin)

~~~~~~~~~ Newt ~~~~~~~~~

Newt is absolutely nuts, which
has no reflection on the bands that I've found to relate to her. ;-) Guy
told me about Ozzy Osbourne's latest, and after listening to "I'm Not
Going Away" I totally agree with his assessment that it is Newt from front
to back. Two more that bring Newt to mind are NiN's "Only" and "Every Day
is Exactly the Same." I'm expecting more from this character, so I'm
curious myself as to what is going to show up here to reflect on Newt.

~~~~~~~~~ Piscary ~~~~~~~~~

A
fellow music aficionado suggested "Sympathy for the Devil" by Guns and
Roses, and after playing it to death, I realized it cast wonderful shadows
on Piscary, one of Cincinnati's Master vampires, though you will all have
to wait until book two to see what I mean. "Pet" and "Lullaby" by A
Perfect Circle strike close to home with Piscary as well in regards to
warping his scions. Piscary's restaurant after Kisten assumes management
brings to mind Rob Zombie's "Living Dead Girl." Think line-dancing
vampires. Yes. Line-dancing vampires. I only hope Rob will forgive me.

~~~~~~~~ Big Al ~~~~~~~~

I
finally found a piece of music that reminded me of Big Al, my demon in
crushed green velvet and smoked glasses. Try "Mr. Tinkertrain" by Ozzy
Osbourne.

~~~~~~~~~~ Nick ~~~~~~~~~~

It
took a while, but I'm finally nailing down a few pieces of music that I
can relate to Nick. From Kip Winger, comes "Sure was a Wildflower."
"That's What I Get" from NiN works really well, too.

~~~~~~~~~~ Ceri ~~~~~~~~~

Audioslave's "Doesn't Remind Me" casts shadows on Ceri and her efforts to
resume a normal life after her servitude.

~~~~~~~~ Seduction ~~~~~~~~

As the plotlines progress, I'm
finding myself collecting a few pieces of music of seduction, and in the
spirit of avoiding spoilers, I'm not saying whom they relate to. Dipping
wa-a-a-ay back, I found Sting's "I Burn for You," which has a hidden
thread of evil in it if you are looking (subtle . . .) and a crystalline
purity that gives it a delicious threat. Evanescence's "Even in Death,"
which is terribly tragic. But in my thoughts, I have yet to find a more
seductive piece of music than "New Years Prayer" by Jeff Buckley off his
sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk. Sigh. You may have heard it
before as it's used as the beginning music for The Dead Zone, but the real
thing is oh so much more (languorous stretch) seductive. . . . Also from
Jeff Buckley is "Lilac Wine" which has all the markings of an old jazz
song, and "You and I."

~~~~~~~~ The Ever-After ~~~~~~~~

I found, thanks to
The-Guy-In-The-Leather-Jacket, a piece of music that is remarkably close
to my idea of the ever-after. A Perfect Circle's remake of Lennon's
"Imagine." Think of a red-smeared sky and a broken city skyline, and
you've just about got it.